PAM. 

COG. 


</  l  ' 


.4^' 

|  o 


Cestunonp 

4 

TO  THE  LOVE  OF  JESUS: 

THE  LAST  WORDS  TO  HIS  FRIENDS 


OF  THE 


THE  FIRST 


DAKOTA  BRESBYTER 

V  ’  '  \ ,  \ 

OF  THE 

PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 


THIRD  EDITION. 

Published  through  the  offerings  of  the 

DA  KOTA  LEAGUE  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

1874. 


C  lJ  '  t ) 
r>  L  (/ 


r  ; 


5  0  0  Ia  0  (' 


Cestmtonp 


V 


0)  tV" 


TO  THE  LOVE  OF  JESUS: 


THE  LAST  WORDS  TO  HIS  FRIENDS 

OF  THE 


THE  FIRST 

DAKOTA  BRESBYTER 


OF  THE 


PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


THIRD  EDITION. 

Published  through  the  offerings  of  the 

DAKOTA  LEAGUE  OB1  MASSACHUSETTS. 

1874, 


TO  THE 


FRIENDS  OF  INDIAN  MISSIONS, 


TESTIMONY  TO  THE  LOVE  OP  JESUS, 


WRITTEN 


BY  OTJB  FIRST  DAKOTA  PRESBYTER, 


IS  FRATERNALLY  DEDICATED 


BY  THE 


Snbian  Commission  of  tl)e  JJrotcstant  episcopal  CIjnrd), 

IN  THE  CONFIDENCE 

THAT  FAITH  IN  THIS  CHRISTIAN  WORK  AMONG  THE  RED  MEN 

WILL  BE  CONFIRMED, 

AND  EFFORTS  BE  MULTIPLIED  FOR  ITS  EXTENSION, 

BY  THESE  LAST  WORDS 


OF 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/testirnonytoloveo00maza_0 


Extract  from  the  Address  of  the  President  of 
the  Dakota  League  of  Boston  to  the  Rectors 
of  the  Diocese  of  Massachusetts,  All  Saints ’ 
Day,  1873. 


The  noble-hearted  Bishop  of  Minnesota,  in  a  visit 
to  Boston  eleven  years  ago,  ronsed  the  dormant  sym¬ 
pathy  which  existed  in  many  hearts  for  the  perishing 
Indian  race,  into  a  conviction  that  the  responsibility 
of  earnest  prayer  in  their  behalf  lay  upon  every 
Christian. 

Shortly  after,  a  member  of  Emmanuel  Church, 
Boston,  while  visiting  in  Albany,  became  acquainted 
with  a  dear  sainted  child  of  God,  now  resting  in 
Paradise — Evelina  C.  Bogart.  With  paralyzed  limbs, 
for  twenty-five  years  she  lay  on  a  couch  of  suffering, 
much  of  the  time  in  an  agony  of  distress,  yet  always 
calm  and  patient,  full  of  love  and  faith  and  zeal,  living 
in  the  “peace  of  God  that  passeth  understanding,*” 
stimulating  by  her  words  and  prayers  hundreds  to 
more  activity  for  their  Master,  and  now,  resting  from 
her  labors,  “her  works  do  follow  her.55  Into  the 
ready  ear  of  this  new  friend  she  poured  the  story  of 
Bishop  Whipple’ s  mission  at  Redwood  ;  of  the  young 


I 


6 

Minister  who  had  consecrated  his  life  to  the  Indians, 
— Samuel  D.  Hinman ;  of  the  late  fearful  massacre 
which  had  scattered  these  poor  people  so  happily 
gathered  under  his  faithful  teaching,  and  of  their 
great  need  of  food  and  clothing.  She  encouraged  the 
desire  to  prepare  boxes  of  clothing  for  their  relief, 
suggested  the  possibility  of  supporting  an  Indian  stu¬ 
dent,  related  her  own  experience,  and  furnished  the 
definite  information  required. 

The  dearly-beloved  Hector  of  Emmanuel  Church, 
now  Bishop  of  Central  New  York,  entered  with  glad 
sympathy  into  the  wishes  and  plans  of  his  parish¬ 
ioners.  Many  calls  were  made,  money  and  clothing 
contributed,  and  in  the  fall  of  1863,  a  large  box  was 
sent  to  the  Mission,  bringing,  in  response,  letters  from 
Mr.  Hinman,  Dr.  Breck  and  Bishop  Whipple,  which 
aided  in  establishing  a  permanent  interest  in  the  work. 

A  strong  desire  was  felt  to  do  something  toward 
the  support  of  a  student,  and  a  teacher  of  Emmanuel 
Sunday-school,  who  had  been  moved  by  Bishop 
Whipple’s  address,  persuaded  her  class  to  lay  aside, 
weekly,  something  for  this  purpose ;  and  out  of  this 
effort,  a  few  months  later,  grew  an  organized  associa¬ 
tion — the  Dakota  League — whose  officers  were  a 
President,  Yice -President,  Secretary,  and  Treasurer, 
and  whose  members  pledged  themselves  to  awaken  an 
interest  among  their  friends  and  raise  one  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  a  year  for  the  support  of  an  Indian 
student.  Mr.  Hinman’ s  heart  was  lightened  by  the 


7 

pledge,  and  he  chose  for  their  beneficiary  from  among 
his  most  promising  young  men,  Paul  MazaJcute ,  the 
first  Indian  Presbyter,  whose  whole  life  and  eminently 
Christian  death  were  a  beautiful  illustration  of  the 
power  of  the  Gospel  of  CnuiST. 


I 


If  this  manuscript  shall  he  approved  by  the  Rev. 
Samuel  D.  Hinman,  and  by  those  chief  friends  of  the 
Indians,  Mr.  William  Welsh  and  the  Secretary  of  the 
Indian  Commission,  I  desire  it  published  among  the 
friends  of  this  Mission. 

(Signed) 

Paul  Mazakute. 


The  Rev.  Paul  Mazakute,  a  Presbyter  of  the  Epis¬ 
copal  Church,  has  written  in  this  book  his  last  words 
to  his  friends. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  D.  Hinman  will  translate  this  into 
English  for  me. 

Santee  Agency,  Nebraska, 

January ,  1873. 


' 

( 

0 


' 


Hast  Ml ot os  of  tf )e  Eeo.  iPau!  a9a?afeutc. 


CHAPTER  I. 

In  this  hook  I  shall  write  a  few  of  my  words,  hut  X 
do  not  do  it  because  I  wish  to  praise  myself,  or  make 
my  name  great ;  but  humbly,  and  esteeming  myself  of 
no  account,  I  write  these  my  last  words.  I  write  to 
and  as  a  member  of  the  Holy  Fellowship,  and  a  Minister 
of  the  Church.  And  I  write  because  I  have  yet  many 
things  that  I  desire.  To  my  friends  in  Ciieist  Jesus 
in  the  country  called  the  United  States,  to  the  men  and 
women  who  have  faith  in  Cueist,  and  walk  in  His  way, 
I  give  thanks. 

And  the  thing  that  I  desire  is  this.  I  have  live  chil¬ 
dren — four  boys  and  one  girl.  If  any,  no  matter  where 
they  live,  will  have  pity  on  them  for  my  sake,  and  teach 
them  letters,  to  lead  them  along  the  way  of  Cueist, 
which  leads  to  peace  and  life,  they  will  make  me  truly 
thankful.  I  must  now  soon  leave  them,  and  as  they 
are  yet  very  small,  I  am  truly  sad  at  heart. 

I  do  not  look  to  any  of  the  Dakota  people.  But  I 
look  with  confidence  to  the  white  people  who  have  the 
charity  of  Jesus.  For  this  reason  I  now  speak:  for 


two  years  I  have  been  very  sick,  and  for  days  and 
nights  now  I  have  been  very  weak.  I  seem  now  to  be 
very  near  the  gates  of  death.  My  life  npon  earth  is 
very  weak,  my  mind  is  very  short,  and  my  voice  and 
my  body  both  are  faint.  Therefore,  for  my  children’s 
sake,  I  put  my  trust  in  strangers.  If  I  were  well,  I 
would  not  say  this. 


13 


CHAPTER,  II. 

I  know  that  to  men  upon  earth,  children  are  given 
to  care  for,  and  to  instruct — and  if  I  were  to  live  long 
it  would  be  a  shame  for  me  to  say  these  things.  But 
when  children  are  left  orphans,  it  is  the  privilege 
of  any  person,  having  charity,  to  care  for  them,  and 
make  them  wise  unto  life,  and  whosoever  doeth  this 
shall  win  a  great  glory  in  Heaven. 

In  the  year  1868  I  went  to  the  East,  and  saw  much 
of  the  country  there.  In  Pennsylvania,  New  York, 
Connecticut,  and  Massachusetts,  especially,  I  saw 
many  Houses  and  Works  of  Mercy.  I  have  a  very 
strong  affection  for  all  those  States  on  that  account, 
and  a  desire  that  my  children  be  there.  This  is  one 
reason  why  I  desire  it.  In  a  little  while  I  shall  not  be 
with  them,  and,  if  they  are  not  instructed,  they  will 
grow  up  foolish  and  sinful,  and  if  I  think  it  sad  that  I 
can  no  longer  see  them  on  earth,  it  will  be  sadder  still 
if  I  shall  not  see  them  hereafter  in  Heaven. 

Therefore,  if  any  one  will  pity  me,  and  take  one  of 
them,  and  make  it  wise,  and  so  cause  me  to  see  it  in 
Heaven,  my  soul  will  have  great  joy.  Whoever  can 
do  this  for  me  will  make  me  very  thankful.  I  am  an 
Indian,  and  I  know  all  their  thoughts  and  ways,  and 
they  are  all  bard  and  full  of  misery.  I  grew  up  among 
them  sad  and  wretched ;  but  at  last  I  found  a  blessed 


Faith,  having  which,  though  I  am  dying,  I  know  that 
I  am  hut  waiting  for  a  great  joy  and  peace.  It  is  true 
that  the  Dakotas  now  have  this  blessed  Faith,  and  also 
have  teachers — but  these  are  among  Dakotas,  and  the 
teaching  is  in  their  language,  and  so  it  is  difficult  for 
them  to  think  of  much,  or  to  learn  much.  Therefore 
I  desire  my  children  to  be  taught  among  whites,  hoping 
that  if  they  are  well  cared  for  and  learn  English,  one 
of  them  at  least  may  come  back  as  a  Minister  to  his 
own  people.  This  is  my  heart’ s  desire. 


i5 


CHAPTER  III. 

I  have  a  work,  and,  that  it  is  a  good  work,  my  mind 
knowetli  well.  And  I  desire  to  work  as  long  as  I  live, 
and  to  fulfil  all  those  things  Jesus  has  given  me  to  do. 
I  have  done  what  I  could.  But  I  am  God’s,  and  it 
seems  His  will  to  call  me  soon  to  Himself.  But,  though 
this  is  so,  yet  I  desire  that  my  work  should  live,  and 
in  my  own  family  he  handed  down  as  their  best  inheri¬ 
tance.  Therefore  I  desire  that  my  children  be  well 
taught,  and  that  as  I  was  the  first  Minister  from  the 
Dakota  people,  so,  if  God  my  Father  shall  so  bless 
me  and  keep  me,  from  mine  may  grow  up  another 
Minister  who,  though  I  be  not  here,  shall  bear  my 
name  among  the  Ministers  of  Christ,  and  finish  the 
work  that  I  now  lay  down.  I  therefore  desire  this 
thing  from  my  friends  who  are  followers  of  the  same 
Faith  with  me. 

In  times  past  I  know  how  miserably  the  Dakotas 
have  lived,  and  especially  that  their  orphans  have 
lived  and  died  in  sorrow.  But  now  some  of  the  Da¬ 
kotas  are  following  the  good  life,  and  as  many  as  do 
not  leave  it  will  be  saved,  and  those  who  do  not  take 
part  in  it  will  go  into  great  tribulation.  Thus  here¬ 
after  the  Dakotas  will  walk  in  two  ways — one  leading 
to  sorrow,  and  one  to  blessing. 


i6 


This  one  I  desire  my  children  to  walk  in,  so  that  if 
one  of  them  shall  be  wise  he  may  save  other  souls.  If 
a  man  is  rich,  and  humble  himself  to  ask  from  another 
man,  it  is  a  shame ;  but  if  a  man,  poor  and  in  misery, 
humble  himself  to  ask  help  from  another,  it  is  right. 
Thus  I,  a  Dakota,  ask  for  help,  and  I  ask  without 
shame.  And  it  is  a  shame  for  one  to  ask  help  from 
another  people ;  but  I  send  these  my  words  to  the 
whites  :  but  I  do  it  without  shame,  because  we  are  one 
body  in  Chkist. 


i? 


CHAPTER  IV. 

And  now  I  will  speak  of  myself.  In  times  past  I 
walked  over  a  dark  road,  having  no  light.  I  was  in 
misery,  deep  in  the  valley  of  death,  wounded  by  evil 
spirits,  and  in  the  midst  of  many  fears.  There  was  no 
man  on  earth  to  save  me. 

But  all  at  once  the  Good  Shepherd,  always  active — 
He  who  never  tires  ;  He  who  walks  bravely  in  difficult 
places  and  in  desert  lands,  ever  seeking  the  lost — He 
came  upon  me,  and  He  delivered  me  from  the  valley 
of  death  and  from  the  place  of  torment  of  the  Evil 
Spirit,  and  caused  me  to  live. 

This  One  is  truly  merciful,  and  no  man  can  equal 
Him  ;  alone  all  good  ;  alone  all  strong  ;  alone  all  holy : 
this  One  only  is  clear  of  sight ;  this  One  only  strong 
of  wing  ;  this  One  only  everywhere  strong  in  battle, 
and  with  a  great  victory  He  has  won  all  the  peoples  of 
the  earth.  He  is  the  Saviour  of  both  body  and  soul 
— Christ,  the  Son  of  God. 

This  is  He  Who  caused  me  to  live,  and  it  is  He  Who 
even  now  adds  night  and  day  to  my  fading  life.  This 
One  alone  I  trust.  His  Word  alone  I  obey.  I  am  trying 
to  live  His  Life,  and  I  shall  be  with  Him  for  ever. 

God  bless  His  servant  also  who  led  me  to  Jesus  ;  so 
like  Him  iu  his  work )  fearing  nothing,  hindered  by 


i8 


nothing,  and  leaving  liis  own  people  to  save  the  poor 
lost  Indian.  God  knows  the  number  of  souls  that 
have  been  blessed  through  him,  and  they  will  be  his 
everlasting  recompense  and  crown  of  glory. 

In  1862  I  made  my  Christian  vows.  For  seven  years 
I  was  a  Catechist,  and  for  five  years  I  have  been  a 
Minister.  One  year  I  was  a  Deacon,  and  for  four 
years  I  have  been  a  Priest.  When  I  was  made  a 
Priest,  I  went  to  the  Yankton  people. 

At  first  I  lived  at  Yankton  Agency,  and  I  went  also 
sometimes  to  White  Swan  to  tell  the  good  words  of 
the  Gospel.  Then  for  a  year  I  had  a  church  at  Cho- 
teau  Creek,  Dakota,  and  from  there  I  went  from  time  to 
time  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  the  Ponkas.  So  that  now 
if  the  Church  is  growing  among  those  people,  it  was  I 
that  made  the  way.  Since  I  have  been  a  Minister,  I 
have  had  but  one  voice  among  my  people,  a  voice  to 
proclaim  the  Light  of  Christ. 

Though  I  have  never  been  far  away,  yet  among  the 
Dakotas — at  Yankton  Agency,  and  White  Swan,  and 
Choteau  Creek,  at  Ponka,  at  Santee,  and  on  the  Ba- 
zille — in  six  villages  I  have  proclaimed  the  glad  tidings 
of  the  Gospel.  But,  although  I  have  labored  thus,  I 
do  not  account  my  life  as  perfect  in  God,  and  I  do  not 
forget  to  pray  to  Jesus,  night  and  morning,  to  save  me 
for  His  Mercy’ s  sake. 


19 


CHAPTER  V. 

In  the  five  years  I  have  been  a  Minister,  of  men, 
women,  and  children,  I  have  baptized  sixty-four. 
These  I  have  baptized  with  my  own  hand.  I  have 
married  eight  persons,  and,  since  I  have  been  a  Priest, 
I  have  administered  the  Holy  Communion  to  my  peo¬ 
ple  on  seven  occasions.  Thus,  since  the  Saviour  has 
given  me  work  to  do,  I  have  worked  for  Him  according 
to  my  poor  ability.  This  has  been  my  mind.  He, 
J  esus,  through  great  suffering  saved  me  and  bought  me 
with  His  precious  Blood.  So  I,  with  my  will,  and  my 
soul,  and  my  body,  and  with  my  voice,  ought  to  praise 
Him.  And  also  I  always  remember  that  He  sent  me  to 
work  for  Him,  and  that  He  watches  over  me,  and  that 
so  I  am  not  mine  own  but  His.  So,  when  I  have  been 
among  other  tribes,  I  have  worked  gladly  with  my 
own  hands  to  build  the  rude  churches  we  worshipped 
in.  And  on  the  Holy  Day  I  have  read  Morning 
Prayer  and  the  two  Lessons,  and  preached  to  them,  as 
also  at  the  time  of  Evening  Prayer.  And  perhaps  in 
this  way  I  have  weakened  my  lungs  sooner  than  they 
otherwise  would  have  been  weakened.  But  even  if  this 
be  so,  in  Christ  I  count  my  body  as  nothing,  and  I 
remember  that  He  toiled  for  me  and  died  for  me,  and  so, 
if  working  for  Him  I  seem  to  die  for  Him,  I  count  it  no 


20 


more  than  right,  and  I  glory  in  it.  These  tilings  T  have 
done  for  other  tribes,  but  now  I  am  come  home  to  my 
own  people,  and  although  I  am  not  well,  yet  (not  at  the 
Agency,  but  in  another  place)  I  have  a  good  church  and 
a  village  of  people.  The  church  is  called  the  Church  of 
the  Blessed  Redeemer.  And  though  now  every  day 
my  body  is  weak,  yet  I  remember  the  good  fight  Christ 
has  given  me  to  take  part  in.  And  I  think  that  Jesus 
has  given  me  this  as  my  last  glory  upon  earth,  and  I 
thank  Him  for  it.  But  even  now  I  cannot  pray  strongly 
in  my  church,  but  a  Catechist,  twenty-four  years  old, 
helps  me,  and  reads  the  Prayers  and  Lessons,  and  I  say 
the  Offices  and  a  few  last  words  to  my  people.  Thus, 
notwithstanding  my  illness,  we  are  able  to  have  all  the 
Services  of  the  Church. 


/ 


CHAPTER  YI. 


In  tliis  book  I  have  written  many  words,  and  per¬ 
haps  some  man  may  say  or  think,  “He  fears  to  die, 
and  therefore  lie  makes  many  words  or  it  may  be 
that  no  one  will  think  this  of  me.  But  this  has  been 
my  mind  in  writing.  I  think  it  a  shame  that  I  should 
die  without  giving  my  testimony  to  the  Love  of  Jesus. 
I  do  not  wish  to  die  in  silence,  as  a  man  without  faith. 
In  my  body  I  fear  nothing,  but  only  fear  Him  Who  is 
able  to  destroy  both  soul  and  body  in  hell.  This  i3 
God.  For,  whoever  on  earth  walks  with  Christ,  and 
is  partaker  of  His  Life,  all  such  an  one’s  treasures  are 
in  Heaven.  Thus,  ever  since  God  called  me  away  from 
the  slavery  of  sin,  and  I  came  into  His  Light,  I  have 
thought,  that — for  the  work  that  I  did  for  Jesus  while 
I  lived,  for  my  weariness  for  Him,  for  the  heavy 
burdens  borne  for  Him,  for  the  hunger  suffered  for 
Him,  for  the  thirst  endured  for  Him,  for  my  tears  for 
Him,  and  for  the  sorrow  endured  for  Him,  for  my 
walk  with  Him,  waiting  not,  and  resting  not,  day  or 
night — that  now  soon,  in  Him  and  with  Him,  He  for 
these  tilings  will  give  me  comfort.  And  now  this  is 
my  mind,  “That  I  am  going  home  to  my  Father’s 


22 


House  ;  that  I  am  going  home  where  my  good  Elder 
Brother  dwells.” 

And  so  every  day  I  long  to  go,  but  know  that  I 
must  wait  until  His  appointed  time,  and  then  I  shall 
go  home  and  I  shall  be  with  Him,  and  be  in  joy  in  the 
new  country  of  God.  E^en  now  with  my  eyes  I  seem 
to  see  it,  and  my  heart  leaps  for  gladness — the  river  of 
God  flowing  with  the  water  of  life  ;  on  either  side  the 
tree  of  life  ever  bearing  fruit;  and  the  City  always 
brilliant ;  and  the  buildings  all  of  shining  gold ;  the 
men  in  raiment  brighter  than  the  sun  ;  these  all  day 
and  night,  wise  in  mind,  walk  making  peace,  and 
singing  hymns  such  as  we  never  knew  below,  and  with 
voices  such  as  we  have  never  heard.  And  on  either 
side,  the  everlasting  mountains,  bright  and  ever  green ; 
men  walking  there  rejoicing  ;  the  City  with  its  streets 
of  gold,  and  houses  pleasing  in  their  color  like  the 
leaves  of  autumn,  green  and  scarlet,  and  white  as 
silver ;  and  there  is  no  sun  there,  but  the  face  of  the 
Lord  is  the  everlasting  Light.  It  seems  even  now  as 
if  1  were  in  this  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory. 

My  heart  longeth  for  it.  To  such  a  country  as  this 
I  shall  soon  go  home. 

I  am  as  a  man  who  has  left  his  pleasant  home,  and, 
after  wandering  for  years,  is  now  almost  returned  to  it ; 
as  he  hasteneth  and  longeth  for  it,  so  my  soul  longs  to 
be  called  home. 

Therefore,  my  friends,  when  I  am  gone  from  earth, 
I  do  not  wish  any  to  sorrow  for  me.  For  I  shall  not  be 


23 


in  pain  or  sorrow.  Remember  for  me  that  I  am  only 
sad  for  the  relatives  I  leave  behind  me,  and  that  I 
shall  no  longer  look  upon  my  wife  and  children,  whom 
I  love,  and  leave  my  blessing. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

And  at  last  I  will  speak  of  my  family.  We  were 
seven  children — three  boys  and  four  girls.  All  were 
older  than  I.  I  am  the  youngest.  My  mother  died 
nineteen  years  ago.  My  father  died  a  long  time  before 
that.  All  my  brothers  and  sisters  died  without  faith, 
but  one  lived  to  hear  with  me  the  Word  of  Life ;  he 
died  a  short  time  ago.  I  am  thirty-one  years  old.  I 
was  born  in  Minnesota,  where  the  town  of  Wapaxa 
now  stands.  I  was  born  in  June,  1842. 

For  twenty  years  I  lived  in  darkness,  and  now  for 
eleven  years  I  have  kept  the  Faith.  And  now  that  I 
am  to  die,  I  thank  God  that  He  has  permitted  me  to 
live  until  I  knew  something  at  least  of  the  joy  and 
peace  of  believing.  I  shall  not  now  be  among  enemies 
but  among  friends. 

Amen. 


(Signed) 


Paul  Mazakute. 


*4. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

I  iiaye  had  this  disease  for  fifteen  months,  and,  but 
for  the  care  I  have  had,  and  the  kind  friends,  I  should 
have  died  long  ago. 

Dr.  P.  G.  Holmes,  of  Nemaha,  Nebraska,  has  given 
me  medicine,  and  prolonged  my  life — and  I  bless  him, 
and  his  wife,  and  children,  and  all  his  house. 

I  also  bless  and  say  farewell,  I  trust  only  for  a  time, 
to  my  Minister  who  taught  me,  and  to  his  wife — the 
best  of  women — and  to  Miss  West,  and  all  his  family. 
Also  to  Mrs.  Wisner,  Mrs.  Burnham,  and  the  lady 
who  built  my  church.*  To  Mr.  Welsh,  and  to  all  my 
friends,  and  all  their  families.  May  God  keep  us  all, 
living  or  dying,  and  may  we  through  His  Mercy  meet 
in  Everlasting  Life.  Amen. 

P.  M. 


*  The  following  letter,  written  to  this  lady,  will  be 
read  with  interest  in  connection  with  a  farewell  so 
touching : 

Santee  Agency,  Neb., 
December  30,  1872. 

Translation  of  letter  of  Dev.  Paul  Mazakute ,  Decern - 
ber,  18,1872: 

Miss  - - : 

My  friend  in  Cueist  Jesus  ;  the  letter  that  you 
wrote  me  on  the  2nd  of  this  month,  I  received  to-night, 


December  16th.  1  was  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Mr.  Hitt* 
man,  and  he  gave  me  the  letter  and  read  it  for  me. 
In  that  letter  you  gave  me  only  good  words,  and  all 
that  you  said  to  me  pleased  me  very  much  and  made 
me  very  happy.  I  am  an  Indian,  and  there  is  no 
reason  why  you  should  remember  me  but  for  my 
work’s  sake.  That  work  God  gave  to  me,  and  for 
that  reason,  though  I  am  an  Indian,  and  you  of  a 
different  people,  yet  your  faith  is  my  faith,  and  in  all 
the  earth  there  are  many  different  races  of  men,  yet 
to  all  alike  God  has  given  His  one  Spirit,  and  one 
Life,  and  one  Faith,  and  one  Saviour.  You  have 
grown  up  knowing  all  this,  and  for  this  reason,  though 
I  am  far  from  you,  and  have  never  seen  your  face, 
you  have  given  me  a  good  gift  and  made  me  very 
thankful. 

The  church  which  you  have  given  to  the  Great 
Spirit  was  finished  in  September.  I  will  tell  you  how 
it  is  built.  It  is  a  frame  building,  made  of  cottonwood 
and  pine  lumber,  forty  feet  in  length  by  twenty  in 
width :  the  gable  is  twenty-nine  feet  from  the  floor. 
Inside,  it  is  not  yet  plastered,  and  we  have  no  seats  ; 
but  you  have  made  me  very  glad  by  speaking  of  a 
bell,  and  stone  Baptismal  Font,  and  the  Altar  Cloth — 
I  am  very  happy. 

My  life  on  this  earth  will  not  be  long,  and  here  I 
am  doing  a  work  which  I  trust  Jesus  will  bless  with 
glory  hereafter,  and  I  give  thanks  to  God. 

I  have  now  celebrated  the  Holy  Communion  twice 


26 


in  our  church,  in  the  month  of  August,  and  on  the 
First  Sunday  in  Advent.  The  Communicants  were 
fourteen  the  first  time,  and  fifteen  the  second.  There 
are  only  forty  families  living  here  this  winter,  but  we 
hold  Service  every  Holy  Day.  We  pray  that  Jesus 
will  give  us  Everlasting  Life.  But  now  we  do  not 
pray  in  our  church,  we  have  no  stove,  and  so  meet  in 
my  house.  And  we  have  no  furniture  for  our  church 
now,  no  bell,  no  Font,  no  Altar  Cloth,  no  seats ;  and 
I  did  not  think  we  would  ever  be  able  to  have  them. 
But  you  are  from  a  merciful  people,  and  have  made 
both  me  and  my  people  glad  at  heart.  And  especially 
when  we  see  the  things,  that  you  have  spoken  of,  in 
our  Holy  House,  our  joy  will  be  great  indeed. 

I  am  growing  weak,  but  I  think  I  may  live  another 
Summer,  and,  for  the  blessing  that  you  have  conferred 
upon  me  and  my  people,  I  shall  remember  you  in 
every  one  of  these  my  last  days  upon  earth.  I  will 
never  forget  to  pray  for  you  and  the  sisters  whose 
names  you  have  given  me.  This  is  all  I  will  say : 
from  my  heart  I  shake  hands  with  you.  I  wish  to 
say  more,  but  bending  down  to  write  is  painful  to  me, 
and  makes  me  very  weak. 

Your  friend, 


Paul  Mazakute. 


2J 


Extract  from  the  Second  Annual  Report  of 
the  Indian  Commission ,  made  to  the  Board 
of  Missions  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church ,  October,  1878. 

PAUL  MAZAKUTE. 

The  Commission  have  been  made  to  realize,  during 
the  year,  that,  in  the  conduct  of  Mission  work,  as  in 
the  personal  experience  of  individuals,  alternations  of 
joy  and  sorrow  are  to  be  expected.  Since  their  last 
Report,  in  which  they  lamented  the  loss  of  two  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  little  band  of  native  Christian  Ministers, 
the  Rev.  Paul  Mazakute  has  been  called  away  from 
his  earthly  labors.  His  death  occurred  on  the  12th  of 
May  last.  It  was  not  wholly  unexpected,  for  his  fail¬ 
ing  health  had  given  sad  intimations,  for  months  pre¬ 
vious,  that  his  continuance  among  the  scenes  of  his 
pious  and  devoted  labors  could  not  be  long  extended. 
Of  him  it  may  be  said  that  he  was  ‘‘faithful  unto 
death” — faithful  not  only  as  a  Christian  man,  but 
faithful  as  a  Steward  of  the  mysteries  of  God.  As 
late  as  last  December,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hinman,  who  had 
been  on  a  visit  to  Paul,  wrote  of  him  thus :  ‘  ‘  He  will 
not  rest  from  work,  but  says  that  God  has  evidently 
called  him  to  make  ready  to  pass  over  the  dark  river ; 


but  that  we  must  let  Mm  die,  still  at  work,  with  hid 
light  burning.  He  says,  ‘Even  if  I  die  a  month  or 
a  year  sooner,  I  prefer  to  die  still  ministering  at  the  • 
Altar  of  my  Saviour.  ’  ”  There  in  that  little  chapel 
on  the  Bazille  River,  which  the  loving  devotion  of  a 
few  Christian  women  in  Hew  York  had  provided  for 
him,  he  continued  to  perform  his  sacred  duties,  and 
to  testify  of  the  dear  Saviour  ;  and  there  at  last,  in 
that  same  chapel  which  he  had  loved  so  well,  was  his 
thin,  worn  body  brought,  ready  for  its  burial,  arrayed 
in  the  simple  vestments  in  which  he  had  been  wont  to 
minister  in  holy  things.  Miss  West,  who  went  up 
from  the  Santee  Mission  to  be  present  at  the  funeral, 
furnishes  such  testimony  as  this,  of  the  departed: 
“Paul  was  in  all  his  daily  life  one  of  the  most  perfect 
patterns  of  the  Christian  character  that  I  have  ever 
known.  He  has  shown  it  as  much  in  his  patience 
during  his  long  suffering,  as  in  his  earnest  working  as 
long  as  he  was  able,  and  even  after ;  he  could  not  bear 
to  give  up.  I  received  a  note  from  him,  while  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hinman  were  in  Sioux  City,  in  which  he  wrote, 

‘I  am  without  fear  and  full  of  joy,  and  I  am  in  haste 
to  be  in  the  joyful  country,  with  Jesus,  my  Divine 
Friend,  beyond  the  clouds,  because  I  can  no  longer 
work  for  Him  on  earth.’  ”  May  we  not  humbly  say 
of  Paul,  what  Paul  the  Apostle  says  of  one  of  the 
Saints  of  the  Primeval  Dispensation,  “he  being  dead 
yet  speaketh”  ? — speaketli  to  us  white  men,  of  what 
the  blessed  Gospel  of  the  Son  of  God  can  accomplish 


29 


in  tlie  heart  and  life  of  tlie  Indian,  and  speaketh  to 
his  yet  heathen  brethren,  of  the  love  and  goodness 
and  power  of  One  Whom  they  seem  to  be  ever  feeling 
after  under  their  sacred,  traditional  expression,  the 
Great  Spirit . 


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